Gerard van Haren
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Posts posted by Gerard van Haren
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Mr Willis, thanks for your detailed reply. On the picture MEN WHO EXCELLED IN TIMOR in The Australasian 4 left my father.
From left to right: Th. de Winter (1Lieutenant Artillery), D.M.Ph de Jong (Captain Infantry), Ch.W. Schreuder (1Lt Intendance), my dad H.G.P van Haren (Sergeant-major instructor Inf), G.van der Kolk (Sergeant Art), N. Strik (Sergeant Engineers), H. de Man (Brigadier Eng), Hitahiron (Sergeant Inf), M. Vrijens (Sergeant Eng) Tahaparij (Sergeant Inf) W. Broekstra (Kanonnier Art). One not present at the ceremony.
Later on 9 other soldiers where honored with the Bronze Cross for there actions in Portuguese Timor 1942. One of them was J.F. Dengah for his actions at the airport of Dilly. He was a light machine-gunner (karabijn-mitrailleur)
In the Timor Dilly Expeditie Leger there where 3 heavy and 2 light Dutch machine-gun sections. Sergeant 1 kl Ben Brodie was a commander of light machine-gun section. My father of a heavy machine-gun section.
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I have 2 pictures taken at the day my father was decorated with the Bronze Cross (a high Dutch military award) for his actions during the defense of the airport at Dilly (Dili) Timor, February 1942. My father fought with Sparrow Force in Timor for ten months. I have uploaded one picture on the Gallery-section. On this picture you see several Australian soldiers, probably from the 2/2 or 2/4 Independent Company and my father on the right side. Who knows these soldiers and women?The decoration ceremony took place on February 3, 1943 at Darley Camp, Bacchus Marsh nearby Melbourne. See also https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C12814
My father, Sergeant Major H.G.P. (Henri) van Haren, was commander of a section (10 men and 3) heavy machine-guns of the “Timor Dilly Expeditie leger”. Also the 2/2 Independent Company was part of this expedition army.For a documentary of the Slag om Timor (Battle of Timor) we are looking for Timor 1942 veterans (or family). For reactions please send a mail to: g.vanharen@chello.nlGerard van Haren
Escape From Timor – How Four Men Made It Back To Darwin After The Japanese Invasion of Portuguese Timor – Arnold Webb's and Des Lilya's Stories
in History
Posted
From: www.verzettimor1942.nl: We think Javanese Sgt. Van Ligton as mentioned by Des and sergeant Van Linken as mentioned by Arnold is the KNIL (Royal Dutch-Indies Army) conscript sergeant Edu(ard) van Ligten, born 13 January 1916 in Probolinggo, Java. His friend and also sergeant Paul de Vrijer wrote down his Timor Guerrilla-story in Stabelan, Periodiek van de Stichting Vriendenkring oud KNIL artilleristen 11e jaargang nr. 3 van 15 december 1984, nr. 4 van 15 februari 1985, nr. 5 van 15 april 1985 en nr. 6 van 15 juni 1985, blz 31 (Periodical of KNIL artillerymen). Peter, the son of Paul, stated that the evacuated European conscript soldier 100215 van Ligten is not Eduard van Ligten, but another van Ligten.
Paul spoke with Edu for he last time on the wharf in Dilly, about 2 days before the Japanese landed nearby Dilly.
Before the KNIL toke over Tilomar in April 1942 Paul recieved several greetings from Edu.
In the Dagboek Nederlandsche troepen te Timor (Diary Dutch troops in Timor) on 5 July 1942 it says: Incoming messages: L.A. 27 about van Ligten.
In October-November 1942 Paul was working under Captain Broadhurst, Lieutenant Frank Holland and Sergeant telegrapher Smith, East of Kalikai at the Lautem and Mata Bia plateau. The chefe de posto over there spoke French and told Paul that “ Edouard”, after he met him, traveled to the East and then went to the Island of Kisar. Edu later returned to Timor with an aggregate. When Edu left again he told the chefe de posto he would try go by sail proa/prahu to Java.
Eduard van Ligten is mentioned in the register of the Dutch War Grave Foundation (https://oorlogsgravenstichting.nl/personen/94622/eduard-van-ligten), but unfortunately his place of death remains unknown.